ACCUMULATING a swag of medals and titles in his near 15 years as a taekwondoin, Damon Vasterink is a star athlete on his way to the next Virtus Global Games to be held in Vichy, France in June this year.
A student of accomplished coach and mentor, Sammy Rachele, at Shepparton’s Koryo Taewondo Centre, Damon began training in the Korean martial art while he was still a student at Verney Road School.
Now, an Australian Champion with many Victorian State and National Championship gold medals under his blackbelt, Damon will compete at the world’s largest elite sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment.
Travelling with the Australian team to France in June with the assistance of Sports Inclusion Australia, Damon will represent one third of the Australian taekwondo contingency.
With around 45 countries competing, the Virtus Global Games are held every four years drawing thousands of athletes who vie for medals in sports including athletics, swimming, table tennis, rowing, basketball, futsal, tennis, cycling, and of course, taekwondo.
The sixth iteration of the games will be Damon’s second and with many débuting athletes from the games going on to win at the Paralympics, there is every possibility that Damon will do the same in the future.
Supported by a team of coaches, managers and carers, Damon is pumped to be competing internationally.
Wishing that he could travel by Damon’s side, a very proud Sammy said, “I love Damon, he’s been a part of my life for such a long time. He’s a yes man and never ever says no to any challenge.
“Damon loves taekwondo and gets great enjoyment from the sport and is determined when he says, ‘I want to be a world champion!’
“Damon is a yes man; he gives it all one hundred percent.”
